Roles and Characteristics of a Leader and Manager in Management and Operations

This report discusses the roles and characteristics of a leader and manager in management and operations, with a focus on ASDA Stores Ltd. It also explores key approaches to operations management and the impact of the business environment on decision making.

Management and
Operations

INTRODUCTION
Management is an activity and process of managing a business functions, activities,
actions and operation in an effective manners so that the firm can operate its business
appropriately (Bloom and et. al., 2015). With the help of it, a firm is capable to devise good
utilisation of its resources like labour, raw material, money and others origins. In context of a
business, it is important to make development and improvement in overall profit and
productivity. This written report is based on ASDA Stores Ltd which is a British international
supermarket retailer which incorporated in 1949. This company is headquartered in West
Yorkshire, England UK and operate its business internationally with the help of its different
products like grocery, general merchandise and financial services. This written document will
discuss about roles and functions of leader and manager and roles of them in different situations.
Further, will define the key approaches to operations management and the components in the
business environment that impact determination devising of leaders and managers.
TASK 1
P1. Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Leader
A person who directs and control a unit of individyual to motivate the employees in
achieving a common goal of an organisation. It means seeing the vision and sharing that with
employees who work on that visual modality and accomplishing the task according to that visual
sense. A person who is committed to the purpose and encourages people to achieve the common
task in a team.
Roles:
Boost morale – One of the important task of a leader is to build confidence and pulling
every employees to work as a team to achieve the project allotted to them (Chen, Preston and
Swink, 2015). In context of a business entity like ASDA, a leader plays a major role in boosting
the every person morale so they work for the welfare of the company and achieving task on
giving time.

Vision provider – A person can be a vision supplier to their employees and inspire, so
that they understood what they should to be done in an organisation (Cordray and et. al., 2015).
A leader in the ASDA, see a vision for the company welfare and share that vision to their
subordinates to work on that and accomplished it on given time.
Characteristics:
Confident person- A leader should be confident about their decisions so that it can easily
understood by all team members and If not than employees cannot follow a leader decisions. In
ASDA, a superior is very confident about the decisions because of this the employees follow
their decisions and they also assured what they doing.
Accountability- A person who take an initiative to accept mistakes and answerable what
should be done in an organisation and the same will expect to their subordinates. In ASDA, if a
leader do something which is not good for a company than they should be accountable for that
mistake that indirectly motivates employees to be accountable.
Manager
A person who plans, directs, organises, manages and encourages employees for achieving
the goal in an organisation. An administrator have the power to discipline, appraised
performance, hire and fire any employees in a company. Every organisation need manager at
every stage for controlling, monitoring , directing and staffing the subordinates in achieving the
given task.
Roles:
Resource allocator– A manager manages all the resource which would help in achieving
the task efficiently in an organisation (Dubey, Gunasekaran and Ali, 2015). In context of ASDA,
a manager should plans and allocate all resource according to the project.
Spokesperson- A person who represent an organisation to the outsiders is refers a
spokesperson. They required to present their thoughts, plans, policies, actions etc. on behalf of
the organisation. In ASDA, managers play this vital role to represent company in front of other
competitors and convey thoughts and actions which is useful to earn returns.
Decision making- The individual is responsible for decision making and they can do this
in different ways at different levels. When any kind of issues arise in the company then manager
take decision to solve them by using their skills and critical ability. Manager is the only person

who is responsible to take decision regarding management so that the business of the firm can
operate in crucial way (Mintzberg Managerial Roles, 2020).
Characteristics:
Respect employees– A administrator should respect their subordinates so that they work
tension free and motivate in completing the task and reduces the fear of absenteeism. In ASDA,
a manger always respect their employees because of this they work effectively for a company.
Time management– Another duty of a manager is that they manages time in a best way
and communicate this to their employees, for completing a week task which is very important to
every organisation (Fincham and Amroziak, Charge Fusion Technologies LLC, 2017). In context
of ASDA, superior manages the time so that employees complete
the task on a definite period.
Difference between leader and manager
Basis Leader Manager
Meaning It refers to a person who
influences subordinates to
complete a given task.
It defines a person who
manages, control, planing,
directing and staffing in a
company.
Approach A leader Sets path for their
followers
A manager make plans for
their employees
Techniques Here, a leader use
Transformational style.
A superior use Transactional
style
Objective The main aim of a leader is
Success and expansion of an
organisation.
Major benefits is Achieving the
desired task (Fitzgerald and
Barenboim, ManagelQ Inc,
2015).
Decision Here, a person Facilitate
decision
Individual makes decision

M1. Analyse and differentiate between the role of a leader and function of a manager
There are various roles a manager has within a company. To be effective at these roles, a
manager must be a complete business person by analysing the strategic, tactical and operational
responsibilities that the person hold. Henry Mintzberg described different managerial role like
figurehead, leader, liasion, monitor, dissemination, spokesperson, entrepreneur, disturbance
handler, resource allocator and negotiator. These all help in effective management of the
company and employees so the business of the company and all business activities and
operations perform in effective manner. There are some other characteristics of leaders like
coordinator and manager etc. are beneficial to coordinate and administrate employees so that
they can do their work in more appropriate way.
Concepts and theories are explained below in context of ASDA:
Classical management theory- This concept is supported to values and beliefs of
workforce in the company who have only physical and economic demands. It does not take into
consideration social wants of workforce. It is best method to those firm where administration
only concerned regarding productivity rather then other wants of workers.
Transformational leadership theory- This theory is beneficial for the company because
in it, leaders make changes that are best suitable for the organisation in term of maximising profit
and productivity (Gellings and Parmenter, 2016). They make changes in their leadership style
as per the change to motivate workforce.
TASK 2
P2. The role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational contexts
In ASDA, leaders and managers play different roles regarding specific situations, some of
them are mentioned as beneath:
Effective communication- It is an effective factor for each company which is instantly
connected with making effective relations with the employees of an organisation. It is beneficial
to create healthy and friendly work place where employees can perform their duties and
responsibilities in more efficacious manner or help in enhancing productivity and profitability. In
ASDA, if ineffective communication situation arise then leader play an effective role to make
effective communication so that the business and other functions do not be affected by it. Leader
can make open communication with the staff members so that they can share their issues and

problems and get effective solution. By making transparency in communication the leader can
deal with the situation of ineffective communication. Manager can deliver all the required and
essential in formation to workers of the firm so that all people will aware and there will not be
chances of arising issues (Genovese and et. al., 2017). The administrator of respective company
can conduct decision making process and can permits to all employees to make participation so
that they can share their complexities which they face. It will help in minimising issues and make
sustainability in the business. For example, in an organisation, manager is an effective
communicator because the person share all the required information to employees and
communicate them all the changes that are occurred in the policies and rules of the firm. So that
they can update and aware or do their work in appropriate manner.
Decreasing in productivity- For the improvement and maturation of the organisation,
productivity is an crucial determinant of business. In ASDA, if the situation of decreasing
productivity is arising then leader can take initiative to offer better growth option in term of
recruiting skills and well knowledgable persons and candidates who make their contribution in
moving the business of the organisation by using new and effective technology to manufacture
goods and services as per consumer demand (Giannakis and Papadopoulos, 2016). They can
organise training and motivation session so existing workforce can gain in formation about new
things and feel motivated and easily adopt new tools and techniques to perform their roles and
assigned work. This will help in maximising productivity of organisation as well as profitability.
Whereas manager of the respective company play a crucial role by managing all things
like training, learning and motivation activities or provide their support so that leader can do
their work in appropriate manner. They will also follow the instructions of the leader and provide
all the resource to them which are important to overcome the situation of decrement in
productivity of the firm.
P3. Different theories and models of approach
It is an activity in which a person devises an efforts to encourage, influence and inspire
workforce to provide their full contribution accomplish maximised level of productivity and
sustainability. The description of some theories which ASDA can can apply in it is business
functions are defined as under:
Situation leadership theory- It is a leadership concept which is developed by Paul
Hersey and ken Blanchard in 1970. This theory sates that the leader of the organisation should

select leadership style as per the business which are face by organisation at that time. In ASDA,
the leader of the firm can adopt this concept to take decision according to the situation. It is an
adaptive and flexible leadership style that signifies the attitude of the leader regarding firm'
situation and their possibility to devise effective plan of action without influencing employees
morale and values (Hammer, 2015). The individual can takes an effort to find out the current
problems and they can take decisions as per them so that favourable outcomes can be get which
help in making effective working environment.
System leadership theory- It is connect with arranging all task in an organised manner
by analysing employees potentiality or knowledge which assist them to gain sustainable
profitability ratio and also help them to survive within competitive sector and market till long
time frame (Hitt, Xu and Carnes, 2016). In ASDA, by implementing this theory of leadership,
the leader of the firm can allot and assign work as per skills and abilities of workforces so that
they can complete it systematic manner in set time frame. This will help the company in
accomplishing its desired goals and development and gaining rival's benefits.
Contingency leadership theory- This leadership concept is developed by Fred Fiedler to
found out competencies, abilities and skills of employees of a company. In ASDA, this theory
can be use in term of encouraging and motivating workforce so that they can perform their
allotted task and work in accurate and proper manner and the aims and objectives, which can be
set by leader, accomplished in proper way. As this concept suggest that there is no effective
leadership style rather it is ability of individual in handling company complex decision and
improve suitable denomination which maximise individual's morale in proper manner. For
example, if the situation of change occur in working environment then leader adopt effective
leadership style so that the person can motivate employees to adopt change and work according
to it. It will help in operating the business in efficacious manner and workers will accomplish
their aims and objectives of allotted task.
M2. Strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to situations within work environment
Situational leadership theory
Strengths- It develop and maximise decision making capability of leaders which asist
them to generate a comfortable environment for worker and help group to be able to perform
their duties in adequate manner.

Weaknesses- this concept can not be effective for task oriented environment because it
majorly concentrate on immediate needs than long term demands. It inclines to emphasise as
short term plan of action because it concentrates only existing and current scenario.
System leadership theory
Strengths- The strength of this concept is that it is multi dimensional approach because it
make concentration on employees and aims of the company which are effective to developing
execution extent of company as well as workers (Hoyos, Morales and Akhavan-Tabatabaei,
2015).
Weaknesses- The main drawback of this theory is that it is long and complex in nature
and it engages several inter-connected parameters in it.
Contingency leadership theory
Strengths- It assists leaders to proactive rather than reactive which reflect in applying
best strategic determination to increase productivity of the firm. In this theory, the ideas and
decisions of workforce considered by management of the firm.
Weaknesses- In this conception, there I lack of literature sources which create difficulty
between leader in solving issues (Jeong, KT Corp, 2016). There is lack of creativity and
innovation So it is not capable to motivate employees.
D1. Analyse and evaluate the different theories and approaches to leadership
In ASDA, leaders and administrators usage various concepts and concept to maximise the
net profit and productivity of the company. By adopting situational theory then the leader adopt
leadership style as per situation and take decision in context of it. Where as in systematic
conception, leader leader work in structured way so that aims can be accomplished in set time
frame. By adopting contingency theory, the individual allot work and task per skills and
knowledge of employees so that without facing issues, they can complete it on time.
TASK 3
P4. Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and manager play
For the organisation like ASDA this is essential to use different approaches which are
explained below:
Lean production: This is the concept which is utilized for maintaining the resources
effectively. It can be implemented to the different organisation in order to create a sustainable

business model. ASDA management should implement such model as its prime use is to cut
down the price. Further is will aid ASDA to minimise the waste of origins and increase the
profits of firm. The main purpose of this tool is to improve quality of the production by
eliminating waste, minimise time, decrease total costs of production. By implementing this
approach, the management of respective company can save its cost, time and resource which
help in improving the manufacturing and economic condition of the firm.
Roles of leaders: The leaders has to provide right path and goal to the employees and
also motivate them to reduce the wastage of the company (Kache and Seuring, 2017). Apart
from this, they have show right path to subordinates to improve the productivity.
Roles of managers: In this, leaders plays an vital role because they assist the employees
to manage there roles and responsibilities in a well define manner. They maintain the smooth
functioning by controlling and directing employees.
Six sigma: This is most popular approach which is used by organisation to control the
quality and the information which is provided by the organisation. This tools acts as the method
creating perfection in doing business raging from production to final deliver (Leveson, 2015). In
the context of ASDA the management should focus on developing proper strategies and
techniques to achieve perfection and six sigma in a well define manner. It is an effective
approach by the company as it help improvising culture for the company to perform work
effectively. This approach is beneficial because if the company adopt this approach in its
business then it can take immediate benefits in term of include operational cost reduction,
productivity improvement, market share growth, consumer retention, defect rate reduction and
cycle time reduction.
Roles of leaders: This is essential for the leaders of the company to provide proper
training regarding the working process which can achieve the six sigma in effectively manner.
Roles of managers: The top management of the company must determine the application
of such kind of approach and review the workforce and top management to implement six sigma
for betterment and growth.
TQM: This is known process which aims for the constant improvement of the business.
TQM is regular activities that is undertaken for resolve the issues and the problems with the
production process. Hence this also improve the demand and supply in a constant manner and
manager of ASDS should focus on improvement in manufacturing process as to maintain

demand and supply of the company. This approach of operation management is effective for a
business because it concentrate on using high quality information to develop processes reduces
waste and saev time, directing to minimised expenditures that can be passed along to clients in
the form of less prices.
Roles of leaders: In order to maintain the TQM effectively leaders must empower and
encourage employees to complete the assigned task in the given time frame. Another leader
should focus on creating work culture as this help in completion of work in effectively manner.
Roles of managers: Here the administration plays an vital role in constant development
of the company. Beside this management has to put emphasis on extrinsic as well intrinsic
environment. Along with this, manager have to hire efficacious employees which help in
increasing productivity of the organisation.
P5. Importance and value of operations management in accomplishing objectives
Operation management refer to the act and procedure of administrating the business of a
company's functions, actions and operations which are performing by the company (Mijumbi and
et. al., 2016). In ASDA, the administration of firm evaluate in monitoring and dominating the
activities of manufacture and design business organisation in context of manufacture of
productss and services. Grandness and value of operation administration in term of
accomplishing business aims and goals can be be explained by several operation management
function and description of them described as below:
Logistic and inventory- It is an essential function of the firm because if the company
will not have proper support of logistic and products then goods and services can not be offer
and supply to market when the level of necessity or requirement is high due to needs of target
audiences (Nicholas and Carswell, Dizpersion Corporation, 2015). In ASDA, this function assist
management in term of making concentration on product management to stock the worthless
product of production to those goods which not required to manufacture. It is important of the
company because it help in making efficacious management of goods and services that are
needed in the marketplace. So that organisation can satisfy consumers needs and wants by
offering or providing products on time or as per their requirement. With the help of this, each
each organisation can administrate the inventory so that the excess stock is not stored at the firm
and at the same time the demand for consumers is met. The main purpose of this function is to
keep the product safe by analysing the stock and inventory.

Process design- It is important for the firm because it help in creating and devising
manufacturing activities and actions of the firm. In ASDA, it is crucial because with the
assistance of this the administration of the company can make or form development in its
production actions and production of goods as per the requirements of its potential clients. It will
enable in providing satisfaction to customers needs and offering goods as per their necessity that
able to fulfil their desires. With the assistance of this operation management function,
management of products and services can be done in proper manner and can be provide market
accordant to market requirement. It will help in development and growth of the company
because when goods are supply in market on time then consumer can fulfil their needs which
help in accomplishing aims and objective of respective company and improve profit and
productivity.
Control and distribution system- It is an essential substitute in operation management
which help in making control on production activity of the firm. It is important for the firm
because this factor is accountable to control the manufacturing process and ensuring proper
assignment and distribution of resources (Reid and Sanders, 2015). So that the firm can make
effective production of products and services regarding achieving goals of firm. The importance
of this function can be improved by adopting a better method to develop supply infrastructural of
company in order to accomplish the business goals and objectives. In ASDA, with the help of it,
the management of company can efficiently administrate the resources and reduce wastage. This
function help the company by organising and maintaining customer satisfaction by providing
gods and services to them at the time when they have need of them. If organisation manufacture
products as per customer's requirement then it will help in minimising wastage and reducing cost
or time of production.
M3. Evaluate how leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management
To make development in sales, productivity and profitability in competitive industry, an
effective leader and manager is important to a company (Schulze and et. al., 2016). In ASDA,
the manger of the company help the company in manufacture goods and services by using
innovative ideas so that the firm can accomplish its growth and development. Leader use
different leadership style to encourage workforce so that they can perform their work in
appropriate manner. Leaders and manager can improve efficiencies of operational management

by using preceding defined approaches and functions of operation management which will help
in managing production, reducing wastages and minimising time and cost of manufacturing.
TASK 4
P6. Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision making by leaders and managers
The brief descriptions of those factors, that impacted decision making of ASDA, are
explained as below:
External factors
Political factor- This component include political stableness and unstableness, taxation
policy, trade restrictions, foreign trade policy and others. Free trade is an crucial factor that
favourable affect ASDA because it assist management of the company to make free trade of
goods and services without paying tax. This positively impact decision making of leaders and
managers because by taking decision in context of free trade they can make development and
growth in the business of the company.
Economic factor- It consist currency rate, growth rate, monetary polices, exchange rate,
raw material costs etc. In UK, the economic condition of the country is very sensitive to change
in interest rate and facing recession that unfavourably affect ASDA. Because if the changes are
occurred in term of high rate of interest then the firm will pay more cost to financial institutes
from where it raise funds to operate its business (Slack and Brandon-Jones, 2018). It directly
influence the profitability of company in negative manner as well as decision making of leaders
and manger because the decision of selecting financial institute can be wrong due to which they
pay more fund.
Social factor- It involve culture, needs, wants, taste & preferences, beliefs, life style and
religion etc. The element which highly affect the business as well decision making of leaders and
manager is changes in needs. In ASDA, this factor affect firm because because when change are
occurred in trends or competitors offer new substitute products then changes are generated in
customers demands (Stadtler, 2015). If leaders and managers take decision regarding
manufacturing products as per customer's requirements then it favourably impact because
potential clients show their loyalty towards company and retain with it long term. It help in
maximising profit and productivity of organisation or establish a good position in global market.

Technological factor- This component consider advance technology, artificial
intelligence, rival technology, automation, technology incentives and others. In ASDA, this
factor positively affect the business and decision making of leaders and mangers because in
current era, people prefer online shopping so by using different online shopping technology like
mobile application website etc. the firm can fulfil the need of online purchasing of its consumers.
By using different promotional technologies the firm can also create awareness about its new of
existing products in market. It assist in maximising profitability and productivity of respective
organisation.
Internal factors
Culture- It refers to norms, behaviour, customs, knowledge and habits of an individuals
and society who lives in a country. In ASDA, it directly affects the business environment on the
basis of which organisation manufacture its products (Wang and et. al., 2015). It helps leaders
and managers to decide what type of product should be produced while keeping in mind the
cultural background of that country to attract the target customers and earns profitability.
Culture creates impact upon decision making process of production a good that a company
delivers to its customers by keeping in view the cultural background of that place. In respective
company, the management can follow the task supported to culture that encourages and
development a worker. On the contrary, a company firstly learn the culture of that place where it
incorporated and after manufacture its products.
Value- It defines moral ideas and beliefs that encourage individual to act one way. In
context of ASDA, values helps leaders and managers in decision making process to develop and
modify the goods and services on the basis of customers and set the working standard for an
employees in the organisation. This factor understands the difference between right and wrong
that assists a company by giving the better thought connected to their products that would fulfil
the consumer needs even they are different from each other. In respective company, the
administrators examined the values of potential clients and accordant they design the products
and adds some values in it that will able to satisfy customer.
M4. Analyse how these different factors affect the business environment
There are several factors that affect the business environment in different manners. For
example, in ASDA, if the changes are occurred in consumer needs then it affect business
negatively because if need of them will not be satisfied then they can switch to another company.

Moreover, if the management of the company manufacture several products and they have not
value then customers will not ready to pay for them (White, 2016). This unfavourably affect the
sales, productivity and profitability of the business.
D2.Evaluate application of operations management and factors that impact business environment
Operation management is important for administration of the work and business activities
so that a firm can operate its business smoothly without facing issues (Zhou and et. al., 2016).
For example, if the company will not adopt new technologies then it will affect the business in
negative manner in term of decreasing sales, minimising customer base etc. Whereas if
administration consider culture in its production process and manufacture goods accordant it then
it will positively influence in term of increasing profit and productivity.
CONCLUSION
From the preceding defined information it has been concluded that operation
management is a process of managing, administrating and controlling activities and function of a
organisation so that business of the company can operate and run in efficacious and adequate
manner. In an organisation, leader and manager are two effective determinant that play different
roles in different situation for proper operations of business. There are various concepts and
theories like system, situation and contingency which are important to work as per situation and
metastatic manner by allotting work as per employees ability. In different approaches of
operations management like process design, TQM, six sigma and other, leaders and manager
play effective role in term of managing quality of products which are produced by the firm.
There are several factors of business environments that impact determination devising of leaders
and administrators in diverse manner.

REFERENCES
Books & Journals

Online
What Is Situational Leadership?. 2020. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-situational-leadership-theories-styles-
definition.html>.
Leadership and The Contingency Theory. 2020. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.cleverism.com/leadership-and-the-contingency-theory/>.
Mintzberg Managerial Roles. 2020. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.toolshero.com/management/mintzberg-managerial-roles/>.